Fire-escape



(No Model.)

0. SCHNEIDER. FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Mar. 22; 1892.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT Grrrcn.

CHRISTIAN SCHNEIDER, OF JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,145, dated March22, 1892. Application filed September 18,1891. Serial No- 406,105. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN SCHNEIDER,

I of Jamaica Plain, in the county of Suffolk,

State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is adescriptionsufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable anyone skilled in the artor science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation representinga portion of a window-casing, showing my improved fire-escape inposition for use; Fig. 2, an elevation, enlarged, showing the ree one ofthe face-plates being removed; Fig. 3, an edge elevation of the reel;Figs. 4 and 5, views illustrating certain details of construction.

Like letters and figures of reference indioate corresponding parts inthe different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates especially'to an ad- 3' ustable fire-escapeattachable to the windowcasings of buildings, and it consists in certainnovel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, the object beingto produce asimpler, cheaper, and more effective device of thischaracter than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understoodby all conversant with such matters from the following explanation:

In the drawings, A represents a windowcasing. By means of bolts 1),passing horizontally through the casing, a hinge-loop d is secured tothe inner face thereof. A rightangled crane B is provided with pintlesf, which are adapted to work in the hinge-loops d, whereby said cranemay be adjusted in the window.

The reel 0 comprises two face-plates g, secured together byhorizontally-arranged bolts 72. A similar plate 1' is disposed centrallyon the bolts h parallel with the face-plates g. A horizontally-arrangedshaft j is journaled centrally in the plates g 2'. To the top of theplate 1' a loop is secured and is adapted to receive the end of thehorizontal arm m of the crane B. A lip 19 is formed on said arm toprevent said reel sliding against the wall of the building, and saidloop is held in position by a set-screw q or other suitable means. Twobelts r tare wound on the shaft j, respectively, in opposite directionsand on opposite sides of the central plate 2', the inner ends of saidbelts being secured by a screw 0 (see Fig. 5) to the shaft j. The lowerbolts h are each provided witha loose sleeve 10, which acts as afriction-roll for the belts which pass in opposite directions thereover,as shown in Fig. 2. On the bolt h vertically swinging arms a: on arepivoted by their lower ends, each set of arms being respectivelydisposed at opposite sides of the bolts 7" t. The arms a: on (see Fig.2) are provided with a series of pivoted openings y,whereby they may beadjusted longitudinally on said pivot. The outer or free ends of saidarms are provided with a series of openings ,2, and connecting the armsof each set a: no there are two friction-rolls 15, between which thebelts pass. For example, the belt r passes from its coil onthereel-shaft partially around the lower roll 15 between said rolls, an dupward around the coil, thence over the sleeve w. The belti passesbetween its friction -rolls 15 in the opposite direction and downwardfrom the sleeve w at the opposite side of the bolt h. Each belt 7 t isprovided on its outer end with a carriage D D of suitable size to hold aperson. Said carriages are connected by a cord 16.

In the use of my improvement the crane B is swung upward from the arminto the position shown in Fig. l and the reel 0 adjusted thereon. Theoperator steps from the easing into the carriage D. The weight thusdisposed in the carriage causes the beltr to bind the lower friction-roll 15 tightly against the belt-coil on the shaft j, the arm asswinging upward to permit this. Sufficient tension is thus exerted onthe belt 1" to retard the unwinding of said belt from its shaft. As theshaft rotates in unwinding the belt'r, the companion belt t, wound inthe opposite direction, is rolled onto said shaft.

By adjusting the friction rolls 15 in the openings 2 of the pivoted arms00 or x the tension on the belt may be regulated to resist any desiredweight. Moreover, as one of the cars D or D in ascending passes thecompanion car the operator, by grasping the cord 16 and exerting verylittle strength thereon, can retard or entirely stop the movement of 5openings :1 thereof.

his car in a manner which will be readily understood Without a moreexplicit description.

The leverage of the arms :1: a" may be shortened by disposing thepivoted bolt h in the The tension on the triotion-rolls 15 may belessened by separating said rolls by means of the openings 7'.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- 1. In afire-escape, the reel O, provided with the belts a t, in combinationwith the arms 00 0c, pivoted in said reel and provided with adjustablerollers 15, all being arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. In a fire-escape, the frame 13, in combination with the reel C,detachable therefrom and provided with the rotary shaftj, the belts

